THE QUAD; Postcard From Alabama: Days Away, but So Close They Can Taste It

By MARQUAVIUS BURNETT

Published: November 2, 2011

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - By Tuesday, Alabama football fans had already arrived in anticipation of Saturday's game against top-ranked Louisiana State.

Some came early to visit family and friends, and others were here to take in the scenery. The main attractions on campus for any fan are Bryant-Denny Stadium, the Walk of Champions and the five coaches' statues.

The stadium, of course, has been the site of many memorable Tide victories. The Walk of Champions is a plaza outside the stadium that commemorates the program's national titles and Southeastern Conference championships. It also features nine-foot bronze statues of five Alabama coaches: Wallace Wade, Frank Thomas, Bear Bryant, Gene Stallings and Nick Saban.

Together, the three attractions serve as a history lesson of Alabama football. Alexander Hiers graduated from high school in Tuscaloosa before moving to Texas. He returned this week to watch his first game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

''It's amazing to see all of this history and take in the atmosphere,'' he said.

Not all is nostalgia, though. Fans also arrive days in advance to prepare for tailgating. More than 50,000 people who have no intention of attending the game dominate the area near the stadium known as the Quad. With plenty of food and drink available, the party starts days before kickoff and keeps going well after the clock runs out.

Dwayne Ingram, a season-ticket holder, said his tailgate menu changes each game. ''We're having Cajun for L.S.U.,'' Ingram said. ''We try to match our tailgating with the opposing team, so we can eat their food before the team eats them for dinner.''

Marquavius Burnett is a junior at the University of Alabama and the assistant sports editor of The Crimson White, the student newspaper. He will be filing dispatches from Tuscaloosa every day this week to preview No. 1 L.S.U.'s game at No. 2 Alabama on Saturday night.

THE SHOWDOWN: (1) L.S.U. at (2) Alabama 8 p.m. Saturday TV: CBSnThis is a more complete version of the story than the one that appeared in print.

PHOTO: Bear Bryant is one of five Alabama football coaches immortalized with a bronze statue near the university's stadium. All five led the Tide to a national title. (PHOTOGRAPH BY XAVIER BURGIN FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES)
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